19th - 21st November 2020

Saturday, 21st November: Another morning like many of late, with a brisk south-westerly breeze and heavy cloud cover, though fairly mild.....

Selsey Bill: Two Velvet Scoters west and one east were the highlight this morning, whilst a Bonxie and a fulmar went west, along with 125 Kittiwakes, and seven Sandwich Terns were offshore. Full log later. (SH/PB/PM/IP/BI/AH/MO-W)

(0700-1000hrs) (SW, F5)

Great Northern Diver - 3os

Red-throated Diver - 7E, 1W, 1os

diver sp - 1E

Fulmar - 1W

Gannet - 7E, 4W, 20os

Brent Goose - 1W

Common Scoter - 11E, 14W

Velvet Scoter - 1E, 2W

Red-breasted Merganser - 11E, 7W

Dunlin - 5W

Bonxie - 1W

Mediterranean Gull - 20W, 2os

Common Gull - 4W

Kittiwake - 125W

Sandwich Tern - 7os

Razorbill - 6W

auk sp - 2E, 24W

Meadow Pipit - 2E

(1400-1500hrs) (SH)

Red-throated Diver - 1E, 2W

Gannet - 9E, 1W

Brent Goose - 3W

Common Scoter - 2W

Red-breasted Merganser - 1E, 6os

Sparrowhawk - 1

Turnstone - 10

Kittiwake - 4E, 1W

Ferry Pool: There were six Avocets on the pool this morning, along with c150 Lapwing, c40 Teal and c90 Shovelers, whilst at least 50 Wigeon and Teal were in the channel opposite. (AH)

Later, a Cattle Egret was on Ferry Field before flying off east and seven Egyptian Geese went over west. (RP)

Park Farm, Selsey: A Chiffchaff and ten Long-tailed Tits were along Manor Lane and a Sparrowhawk went over, whilst the farm just held two Pied Wagtails and a Kestrel. (S&SaH/IP/MO-W/MI)

Church Norton: A Red-necked Grebe was offshore this morning, along with a Sandwich Tern and a Red-breasted Merganser, whilst nine Common Scoters went west, with the female in the harbour again, along with a redhead Goosander. 

A Dartford Warbler was with two Stonechats near the concrete blocks at the start of the spit with two more of the former in the gorse opposite the Severals, with a female Blackcap and a Reed Bunting nearby, whilst a Firecrest was again in the orchard at Greenlease Farm, along with a Goldcrest.

Also, a Merlin was perched out on Tern Island, the Peregrines were on their island, 12 Avocets were in a channel and at least 750 Lapwing were at the other end of the harbour. (S&SaH/BI/IP/MO-W/MI et al)

Late this afternoon the Common Scoter was still in the harbour, along with three Red-breasted Mergansers, six Great Crested Grebes and four Little Grebes, with the Merlin still on Tern Island. 

Also, the aberrant white-headed Brent Goose was in the harbour again, before departing west with its flock. (DB/MB/AB/AH)

Common Scoter (above) (AH) & aberrant Brent Goose (AB) at Church Norton 

Marsh Farm to Bramber Farm: An impressive total of 56 Cattle Egrets were counted this morning - 39 at Marsh Farm and a further 17 at Bramber Farm (not including the one seen at the Ferry).

There was still one (and very probably two) Black Redstarts around the silage clamps at Marsh Farm, along with lots of Meadow Pipits and Pied Wagtails, whilst the hedgerows between the two farms held at least 120 Fieldfares, along with a Mistle Thrush, a few Long-tailed Tits, 50 Chaffinches and 500+ Starlings, with both a Sparrowhawk and a Kestrel upsetting them all at different times. (AH)

Black Redstart (above), Fieldfares, Meadow Pipit, Cattle Egrets & Fox around Marsh and Bramber Farms (AH)

Friday, 20th November: The morning started crisp and still and clear after overnight frost, before the breeze picked up from the south bringing persistent heavy drizzle with it.....

Selsey Bill: A Red-necked Grebe was offshore, but frustratingly seemed to spend almost the entire time under water, whilst there were also six Great Northern and a dozen Red-throated Divers, 20 Common Scoters, an Eider and two Sandwich Terns about. Full log later. (SH/BI/IP/RP/AH)

(0700-0930hrs) (S, F1-2)

Great Northern Diver - 6os

Red-throated Diver - 1E, 10W, 2os

Great Crested Grebe - 1E

Red-necked Grebe - 1os

Gannet - 16W, 40os

Brent Goose - 9E, 16W

Shelduck - 4W

Eider - 1E

Common Scoter - 2E, 18W

Red-breasted Merganser - 7W, 3os

Turnstone - 75

Mediterranean Gull - 2E

Common Gull - 1W

Kittiwake - 6W

Sandwich Tern - 2os

Razorbill - 2W

auk sp - 17W

Meadow Pipit - 9W

Pied Wagtail - 3W

Red-throated Divers (above), Sandwich Tern, Meadow Pipit & Turnstones at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: Three Avocets and five Snipe were on the pool this morning, along with c40 Teal and c100 Shovelers, whilst at least 400 Lapwing were again spread between the pool and fields. (AH)

Avocet (above) & Snipe on the Ferry (AH)

Marsh Farm, Sidlesham: This morning there were 33 Cattle Egret in the field with the cows, whilst two Black Redstarts were on the concrete blocks by the farm and a Chiffchaff was in the hedgerow. (A&YF)

North Wall: Whites Creek was very busy this morning with about 1,000 Brent Geese (which briefly flew north in the direction of the mitigation fields and then returned), several hundred Wigeon, about 200 Black-tailed Godwits, some 300 Lapwing, 30 Canada Geese, 10 Dunlin, three Avocets, scattered Redshanks, about 12 Shelduck and two Pintails. 

A Kingfisher and a Grey Wagtail were also present at the sluice gates while, in contrast, the rest of the Wall and the Breech Pool were quiet with only a few Reed Buntings, six Curlew and, unusually, a single Fieldfare of note. (IH)

Park Farm, Selsey: Six Pied Wagtails were on the fields and nine Brent Geese went over. (S&SH)

Church Norton: At least 500 Brent Geese were in the harbour, with several small groups going west offshore, and a Red-throated Diver also went west offshore.

Five Avocets were in the harbour, with a Peregrine on its island, whilst two Snipe, two Jays and a Stonechat were around the horse field, with another of the latter by the concrete blocks. (S&SaH) Along the Severals were at least two Dartford Warblers and 12 Pintail dropped into the harbour. (BI)

Medmerry: Porthole Farm to Ham Farm - There wasn't too much of note this morning, though a Dartford Warbler was in atypical habitat - bramble and hawthorn hedgerow on the Medmerry Trail, with 20+ Reed Buntings and 30+ Yellowhammers also frequenting this area.

The maize stubble fields at Porthole Farm held 100+ Pied Wagtails and Meadow Pipits, the cover crops at Ham held 40 Stock Doves and c100 Linnets, whilst a pair of Stonechats were on the banks there.

Several hundred Brent Geese appeared to drop in to feed and c100 Golden Plovers and c500 Lapwings came up off the reserve a couple of times, whilst the tidal areas held c30 Dunlin and Ringed Plovers and c50 Redshank. (AH)

Yellowhammers (above), Reed Bunting, Stonechat, Stock Dove & Pied Wagtails at Medmerry (AH)

Thursday, 19th November: After a murky start, a mostly cold and bright morning in a very blustery westerly breeze...

Selsey Bill: It was generally slow offshore, but four Sandwich Terns were feeding together, with another going west, whilst later on, both a Swallow and a House Martin were seen. Full log below. (SH/RP/AH/MO-W/OM/PC/C&ME/AW et al)

(0700-1200hrs) (W, veering NW, F6-7)

Great Northern Diver - 2E, 2os

Red-throated Diver - 1E

Gannet - 2E, 5W, 4os

Brent Goose - 3E, 26W

Common Scoter - 2E, 2W

Red-breasted Merganser - 2E, 3W, 4os

Turnstone - 4

Mediterranean Gull - 2E, 8W

Kittiwake - 3W

Sandwich Tern - 1W, 4os

auk sp - 3E

Meadow Pipit - 2W

Pied Wagtail - 3W

Swallow - 1W

House Martin - 1 (Broadreeds estate)

Brent Geese (above) (AH) & Swallow (AW) at the Bill

Ferry Pool: A female Brambling was under the feeders outside the Visitor Centre this morning, (IL) and was still present this afternoon (S&SaH).

Brambling at the Visitor Centre (above IL, below SH)

Later, the pool held three Avocets, c80 Shovelers, seven Shelducks and c40 Teal, whilst between the pool and the field there were at least 400 Lapwing. (AH)

Avocets, Shoveler and Teal (above) & Lapwings at the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: A Firecrest and at least two Goldcrests were in the hedgerows at the approach to North Wall early this morning and a Kingfisher flew past at the sluice gates where there was also a Spotted Redshank. 

A Marsh Harrier was flying north of the Breech Pool which held 50 Canada Geese but the fields were less flooded today and contained 12 Curlew but little else. Whites Creek held large numbers of Wigeon while successive small groups of Brent Geese flew north from the harbour and settled on or near the mitigation fields east of Honer Farm. (IH)

A ring-tailed Hen Harrier flew over the North wall into the harbour just after 11.00hrs this morning. (RK)

Additionally, a circular walk from the North Wall via Marsh Farm produced a dozen Redshanks and a Rock Pipit, plus 20 Cattle Egrets in the same field as c.70 Starlings, whilst in the nearby trees and field edges were 30 Fieldfares and two Stonechats. (GHi)

 

Rock Pipit, Fieldfare and Stonechat around the North Wall & Marsh Farm (GHi)

Park Farm, Selsey: A Stonechat was in the fields this morning, along with a single Brent Goose, whilst two Buzzards went over. (S&SaH)

Church Norton: The Black Redstart was again on the concrete spit, along with a pair of Stonechats and a few Linnets, whilst a Snipe was flushed off the shingle nearby and a Marsh Harrier was hunting over the western end of the harbour.

A Bar-tailed Godwit and an Avocet were among the many waders present, which also included at least 50 Grey Plovers and 500+ Dunlin, and there were also 50+ Brent Geese and Wigeon about, with 40 Teal in the creek by the horse field. (AH/S&SaH et al)

Marsh Harrier (above), Bar-tailed Godwit and Wigeon, Avocet, Grey Plover, Dunlin & Teal at Church Norton (AH)

Chichester Marina: A Marsh Harrier was over the reed-beds this morning, with 40 Fieldfare also about. (BFF/DM)

Fishbourne Creek: The first two Goldeneye of the autumn were back this morning, along with five Red-breasted Mergansers and a Kingfisher, whilst there were also a Sandwich Tern, six Spotted Redshanks, a Greenshank and a Rock Pipit about. (BFF/DM)

Itchenor to East Head: A long walk from Itchenor to the far end of East Head and back was fairly quiet in the blustery conditions. Of note were three Sandwich Terns, a Kingfisher, two Kestrels, seven Skylarks, three Goldcrests, 35 Fieldfares, a Stonechat and four Rock Pipits.

A possible Dark-bellied Brent x Black Brant hybrid on the greensward next to the East Head car park this morning stood out from the throng by virtue of its more pronounced white neck collar. 

Not too much else was at East Head bar an army of dog walkers, two Greenshank, and the usual adult Mediterranean Gull in the car park. (PJ/GAJ per SOS)